Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, July 02, 2026 (BSS) - The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations began across Rajshahi today in a festive and orderly atmosphere, with authorities reporting no untoward incidents on the opening day.

The examinations were held at 27 centres in Rajshahi city from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

A total of 140,830 students under the Rajshahi Education Board are appearing in this year's HSC examinations, an increase of 7,578 compared to 133,252 candidates in 2025.

According to the Rajshahi Education Board, the examinees include 73,057 male and 67,773 female students. Candidates from 747 educational institutions, including 208 colleges across the board's eight districts, are participating in the examinations.

For the first time, police have introduced body-worn cameras during the ongoing HSC and equivalent examinations to strengthen security arrangements.

In addition to CCTV surveillance inside examination centres, the body-worn cameras are being used to monitor activities outside the centres, maintain law and order and preserve digital records. The initiative aims to ensure the safe entry of examinees and prevent any untoward incidents.

Police personnel deployed at several examination centres, including Rajshahi College, New Government Degree College and City College, were seen using the cameras on the first day of the examinations.

Authorities also used public address systems outside the centres to inform examinees and guardians about examination rules and important instructions.

To avoid possible traffic congestion or unexpected delays, candidates were allowed to enter examination centres from 8:30 am. Students entered the centres in an orderly manner following the prescribed guidelines.

Rajshahi Education Board Chairman Professor Dr. Shamim Ara Chowdhury visited several examination centres to monitor the overall situation.

She said all necessary preparations had been completed to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations, adding that the use of identical question papers had provided additional convenience in managing the process.

"So far, we have not received any reports of any untoward incidents from anywhere under the Rajshahi Education Board," she said.

The chairman added that law enforcement agencies had taken adequate security measures, while 24 vigilance teams were monitoring examination centres in phases.

According to board statistics, 138,157 students appeared in the HSC examinations under the Rajshahi Education Board in 2024, while the number was 140,115 in 2023 and 129,423 in 2022.